Business Internationalization in the Wine Sector: an Analysis of the Douro

Abstract

Understanding the motivations that lead enterprises to invest
in foreign markets, as well as the mechanisms involved in the process, has been a permanent challenge for researches regarding international business. However, this is not the only challenge.
It is equally important to recognize the timing when this decision
is taken within the organization’s structure and its evolutionary stage, as well as foreseeing where a small business enterprise
may expand itself internationally, and if it can indeed retain those specific markets. In order to research these as well as other specific questions, we undertook the “Douro Region” as a perfect example of international demand. Thus, six companies, all of them working in the wine industry, were interviewed. The results show good internationalization practices, with a preference for markets that
are some way related to them, specifically the emigrant community, starting with simple exportation to more complex strategies when factors such as lack of resources, lack of experience and unknown legislation are overcome.